Attorney General Aims For Senate

TALLAHASSEE — Bob Butterworth, a Democrat and former Broward County judge and sheriff who as attorney general took on everyone from Miss Cleo to Big Tobacco, on Thursday qualified to run for a state Senate seat that Democrats had all but conceded to a Palm Beach County Republican.

Butterworth's surprise decision to run for Senate District 25, a Republican-majority seat that runs along the coast from Port Everglades to Jupiter, ended weeks of speculation on his political future and gave Democrats new hope of recapturing some lost clout.

Unable to seek re-election because of term limits, Butterworth -- who has not lost an election in 30 years -- considered running for another Cabinet post. But in the past couple of days his thoughts turned to the Senate, where Republicans have a 25 to 15 majority.

"I believe it's where I can really accomplish things," he said. "I'm looking forward to addressing issues like education and health care. Here is where the action is."

The only Republican in the race -- and the presumptive frontrunner until Thursday -- is state Rep. Jeff Atwater of North Palm Beach, who said he plans to stay and fight.

"This ups the ante a little, and we're going to have to step up our pace," said Atwater, who received reassuring calls from state Republican leaders that he would not be abandoned. "But my attitude is, let's just strap on the pads, blow the whistle and go at it."

Butterworth's decision sent shock waves through local political circles.

"It's a Republican district, but the [attorney] general is the general. Anything could happen," said William Scherer, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer and Republican fund-raiser.

The state's top Democrats had been courting Butterworth to run for governor, chief financial officer or even agriculture commissioner. A Sun-Sentinel poll taken in February showed Butterworth in the strongest position to challenge Gov. Jeb Bush's re-election bid.

As attorney general, Butterworth gained esteem for taking on the nursing home industry, milk companies that overcharged schools, the tobacco industry, drug retailers using private customer information for marketing and even TV psychic Miss Cleo.

But Butterworth, who turns 60 next month, consistently said he had no plans to run for governor. In the last 10 days, a serious campaign was under way to raise dollars for Butterworth to oppose Republican Tom Gallagher for the new Cabinet post of chief financial officer. It stopped when Butterworth and his allies realized it would be almost impossible to catch up to Gallagher's fund raising, which has already topped $1.6 million.

Republican control

The Senate seat Butterworth wants is held by Fort Lauderdale Republican Debby Sanderson. Sanderson announced two weeks ago that she would not seek re-election, blaming Senate Republican leaders for moving the district farther north into Palm Beach County.

Many Republicans said Butterworth's name recognition and his generally positive record on consumer affairs and law enforcement would not overcome Republican dominance of the district. Voter registration is 46.1 percent Republican, 33.4 percent Democrat and 20.5 percent independent.

"The numbers remain good for us. We will continue to hold this seat," said Danielle Morris, executive director of the Palm Beach County Republican Party.

However, in 2000, the majority of the district voted for Democrats Al Gore for president and Bill Nelson for the U.S. Senate. Many Democrats hope that Butterworth's candidacy will energize their voter base to come out and vote in other races as well.

"His name on the ballot will help turnout in South Florida. It's major," said Florida Democratic Party Chairman Bob Poe.

Butterworth said he began toying with the idea of a state Senate run two years ago. He apparently kept those thoughts to himself until he made his final decision.

"Bob Butterworth is a hometown man, a local guy that people know well in South Florida," said Sen. Ron Klein, D-Delray Beach, the incoming Senate Democratic leader who hopes to increase Democratic numbers in the Senate this November. "This offers him a chance to stay intimately involved with the issues."

After filing his official qualifying papers late Thursday, Butterworth said his decision was motivated by Republican moves to cut funding for programs helping children and seniors.

"Sixteen years ago, 12 years ago, I wouldn't have considered it," he said. "But after what's been happening the last few years, then, yes, I believe my voice in this particular area [South Florida], in this particular arena [the Senate], is the best place that I can serve."

Two-year term

Senate Republican leaders accused the attorney general of seeking a seat in the Legislature as a political stopgap while he decides what to do next.